Study finds fecal incontinence is prevalent in US women

It's a topic that is discussed so infrequently – for reasons that are easy to understand – that it may seem it isn't much of a problem. But new research shows that fecal incontinence is prevalent among U.S. women, especially those in older age groups, those who have had numerous babies, women whose deliveries were assisted by forceps or vacuum devices, and those who have had a hysterectomy. more  

Georgia Tech researchers develop portable “vein finder” for faster, more accurate injections

When medics are treating trauma patients, every second counts. Yet bruises, burns, and other physical conditions often make it difficult to locate veins and administer lifesaving drugs or solutions. more

Mutation that protects against HIV infection may raise risk of West Nile virus illness

People who lack a cell surface protein called CCR5 are highly resistant to infection by HIV but may be at increased risk of developing West Nile virus (WNV) illness when exposed to the mosquito-borne virus, report researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The study, by Philip M. Murphy, M.D., and colleagues, appears online today in The Journal of Experimental Medicine. The findings may have cautionary implications for physicians who are treating HIV-positive individuals with experimental CCR5-blocking drugs, say the scientists. more  

New cocoa evidence on why plant foods are beneficial to cardiovascular health

While a growing number of studies has shown a link between flavanol-rich cocoa and cardiovascular health, scientists have now substantiated a causal relationship between specific compounds present in cocoa and cardiovascular health. Published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) , this new study identifies the flavanol, (-)epicatechin, as one of the bioactive nutrients in cocoa that can improve the ability of blood vessels to relax. more

Household insecticides associated with increased risk of childhood leukaemia 

Household insecticides may increase the risk of childhood leukaemia, suggests French research in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. more

Comedy films boost blood flow to the heart  

Watching comedy films boosts blood flow to the heart, finds a small study in the journal Heart. more

Impotency drugs may be associated with increased risk of optic nerve damage

Viagra and Cialis, the drugs used to treat impotency, may be associated with an increased risk of optic nerve damage in men with a history of heart attack or high blood pressure, suggests a small study in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. more